AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Over the past three seasons, the tailback position has been the strength of the Air Force offense.

Heading into the season opener next week against Colgate, it’s a question mark.

Senior Anthony LaCoste and junior Jon Lee are battling it out in preseason camp in hopes of becoming the Falcons’ No. 1 tailback. But coach Troy Calhoun isn’t sure that one running back can provide what Air Force needs in the running game, so LaCoste and Lee may share the workload.

“It might take more than one player, because we have so many carries at the tailback position,” Calhoun said. “So far, our tailbacks have given good effort and they’ve done a great job of being strong with the ball.”

As Calhoun has moved Air Force’s offense away from the triple option to a zone running game, the tailbacks have taken over. Air Force quarterbacks routinely rushed for 1,000 yards in the option offense. But in each of the past three seasons, tailbacks have rushed for at least 1,000 yards.

Asher Clark rushed for 1,031 yards in 2010 and 1,120 yards in 2011 and Cody Getz ran for 1,248 yards last season. As a team, the Falcons have averaged 315 yards per game over the past three seasons — production that annually put them among the nation’s best.

This year, though, there is uncertainity. LaCoste is moving back to tailback after a season of playing safety. He has had knee injuries the past two seasons that limited his play, but Calhoun believes his best position is running back. Lee rushed for 545 yards and four touchdowns on 88 carries a year ago, but fumbling cost him playing time.

“The fumbling was the weak part of my game,” said Lee, a 5-foot-10, 195-pounder from Bethlehem, Ga. “I’m trying to put it in the back of my mind and not think about it. I’d love to get the ball 25 times a game.”

LaCoste, a 5-10, 205-pound speedster from Albany, Ore., said he’s back where he belongs on the offensive side of the ball.

“Running back is a great position to play here at Air Force,” he said. “We run the ball a lot. I had the third-fastest time on our team in our 40-yard running drills. We have some additional weapons this year.”

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